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The Christmasaurus launches at the Natural History Museum

UK - Bestselling children's author and McFly band member Tom Fletcher launched his children’s fiction novel The Christmasaurus last night at the Natural History Museum (5th October). The Earth Hall was transformed into a Christmas extravaganza with seasonal lighting, canapés and a Giant Crumpet Christmasaurus made from 2,500 Warburtons crumpets.

Published by Penguin Random House Children’s, The Christmasaurus is Tom’ s first novel aimed at seven to 11-year-olds, inspired by his love of all things Christmas and, of course, dinosaurs. Set on Christmas Eve and destined to become a Christmas classic, the story is about the magical adventures of a boy named William Trundle and a most unusual dinosaur called the Christmasaurus.

Magical Christmas scenes from the novel were reconstructed by Bespoke Events, from architectural lighting themed to match the book jacket in winter wonderland colours blues, white and purples to snow flake projections on the ceiling as guests made their way up the staircase and into the Earth Hall. Twinkling tea lights and artificial snow lined the entrance and a selection of Christmas favourites composed in an instrumental style played in the background. An 8ft tall Nordmann Fir Christmas Tree provided by Palmbrokers also helped set the scene.

Food by Dish created a bespoke canapé menu to capture the Christmas theme and bring elements from the book into the food. This included Confit turkey leg ballotine with blackberry, Goat’s cheese and beetroot trifle with gingerbread, Quails egg Florentine with pink peppercorns and Home-made miniature mince pies. Drinks consisted of Prosecco at the reception with a pomegranate crush as the mocktail, a nice sweet drink for the children with a royal red Christmas colour.

Lauren Hyett, head of PR for Penguin Random House Children’s explains: “Where better to celebrate the launch of a book about a very special dinosaur than at the Natural History Museum? Tom Fletcher and Penguin Random House wanted to throw the first Christmas party of the season to celebrate The Christmasaurus in festive style!”

In addition the event featured a sensational brand activation from Warburtons in the form of a Giant Crumpet Christmasaurus – an 8ft creature standing at 2.5 metres tall crafted from 2,500 Warburtons crumpets!

Sally Stanton, head of marketing at Warburtons comments: “The Christmasaurus really is such an entertaining read so is a natural fit for our family brand. After hearing that Tom Fletcher’s Elves loved crumpets just as much as we do, we figured it was a fantastic opportunity to join forces and create the Christmasaurus out of crumpets.”